Dispensing device



7,1940. 4 v. K. MILBANK .200.117

DISPENS ING DEVICE Filed oct. 25. 1938 ATTORNEYS Patented May 7, 1940 PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING DEVICE Vinton K. Milbank, vscarsdale, N. Y.

Application October 25,

7 Claims.

' This invention relates to dispensing devices or containers for plastic,v creamy or pasty material of the type wherein the contents are extruded by means of pressure applied thereto. Such containers in the form of collapsible tubes are in Wide use for dispensing tooth paste, cold cream, shaving cream and-like paste or plastic materials.

In collapsible tubes and containers of the type above described, the device is usually provided with a dispensing spout through which an amount of the paste is discharged which is indefinite or uncontrolled in amount, the amount varying with the amount of pressure applied to the tube and also with the period of application of the pressure. Furthermore, the discharge of the material often continues after the application of pressure on the tube has ceased resulting in waste of the material. I

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a construction whereby a definite, con-- trolled amount of the paste material may easily and automatically be dispensed and wherein the discharge passage in the end of the tube is automatically closed when a desired, predetermined amount of the material has been extruded.

- More particularly, it is anobject of the invention to provide a dispensing or cut-off closure associated with the spout or neck portion of a collapsible tube or analogous container which includes a valve member mounted within the tube and arrangement to close the discharge passage in the neck portion 7 upon the discharge of a small, predetermined amount of the paste material. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide a closure member of the type described which has a portion movable to a position exterior of the tube and on which the paste material is disposed or retained in a position to be easily removed by the finger oi the user or by an implement on which it is desired to use the material as, for example, a tooth brush.

A cognate object of the invention is to provide a closure valve of the type described which may be easily and inexpensively constructed and is adapted for insertion through the large, open end of the tube before the paste material is placed therein.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds. For a better understand ing of the invention, however, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of 1938, Serial No. 236,835

one form of the invention applied to a collapsible tube;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the tube of Fig. 1 with the cap removed;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of another form of the invention applied to a collapsible tube; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of a third form of the invention applied to a collapsible tube.

, Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the invention is shown in association with a collapsible tube T having a flexible body portion I, an inwardly tapered shoulder portion 2 whose upper end terminates in a rigid neck portion 3 which is externally threaded as at 4 for the attachment of a closure or cap member 5 having the internally formed threads 6. The neck 3 is provided with the usual longitudinal discharge passage 1 within which a closure valve member 8 is movable. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, valve 8 comprises a thin, elongated, flat plate 9 whose width is slightly less than the internal diameter of passage :7 and which is provided with the oppositely disposed notches II], I l to thereby provide the outwardly disposed flexible fingers l2, I3 which engage and seat upon the upper end of the neck 3 so as to retain valve 8 and neck 3 in assembled relation. As shown in Fig. 1, the closure cap 5 is provided with a fiat shoulder I4 which engages the upper ends of fingers l2, l3 when cap 5 is screwed into position to effect the closure of tube T.

The lower end of plate 9 is cut away at its opposite sides to provide a narrowed end portion i5 upon which is secured a circular valve disc I6 in any suitable manner, as by upsetting, as shown at H, the lower end of the narrowed end portion l5. The valve 8 is preferably inserted into the empty tube T through its lower end, the fingers l2, [3, being bent inwardly as shown in Fig. 2 to permit their passage through discharge passage "l, the fingers being straightened out after insertion, as shown in Fig.1. After placement of valve 8 in proper position, tube T is filled with the paste material M and its bottom-(not shown) closed in a known manner.

In operation, after removing the cap 5, pressure is applied to the side I of tube T whereupon the paste near its upper end is extruded through the passage '5 simultaneously advancing the valve Suntil disc it reaches the dotted position shown in Fig. 1 and closes the entrance to passage 1. As the paste M is extruded it adheres to the flat Cir removed by drawing an implement, such as a tooth brush, across the plate. The paste may be simultaneously removed from both surfaces of plate 9 by drawing it between the bristles or tufts of bristles of the brush, the thinness of the plate permitting this method of removal. After removal of the paste therefrom, valve 8 is pressed back into the tube to the full line position shown in Figv 1 when the dispensing operation may be repeated. Between periods of use, the cap 5 may be screwed into position, as shown in Fig. 1.

In the form of invention shown in Fig. 3, the valve 8a comprises an elongated cylindrical bodyportion l8 adapted for an easy sliding fit in the discharge passage '7 and having a transversely extending cut-out opening l9. A valve closure member 28 of generally spherical shape is shown secured to the lower end of body or stem portion 18 by means of a wire 2! which passes centrally through these members and whose lower end is bentover, as at 22. Valve 8a is inserted through the open bottom of tube T before the paste M is placed therein, the upper end of wire 2l'ex- I tending straight upwards as shown in dotted lines. After placement of valve 8a in position, the upper end of wire 2! is bent over, as shown at 23, so as to rest on the upper end of neck portion 3, and thus retain the valve 8 in its proper inward position.

In operation, the application of pressure to the side Wall I of tube T causes valve 811 to move outwards through passage 1 into the position shown in dotted lines, wherein the opening 19 is clear of the neck 3 and the paste material M therein may easily be removed by drawing an implement, such as a tooth brush, across and through the opening. In this position the 1325-. sage l is effectively sealed by the lower, solid portion of the cylindrical stem 18, there-bypreventing the extrusion of any additional paste material. It will be understood that the valve closure member 233 becomes seated against the upper end of shoulder portion 2 to thereby prevent i'urther upward motion of the valve 8, so

that at each use of the device, the volume of material dispensed is determined solely by the size of the opening l9. After use, the application of. a slight pressure to the top of valve 8 restores it to its inner position, as shown in full lines, when the operation may be repeated. As in the form shown in Fig. 1, the neck 3 is provided with an external thread 4 for the reception of a screw cap 5, although the cylindrical stem portion 18 substantially closes the passage 1 and prevents drying out of the paste material M In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 the neck 3b of tube T is shown as somewhat shorter than that of the forms shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and no threads are provided on its exterior surface. In this form, valve 8b comprises a spherical shaped closure member 24 which is secured to the lower end of a wire stem 25 whose median portion 26 is straight and whose upper end is bent into the form of an annular ring 2? of greater diameter than that of discharge passage 1. The valve 8?) may be inserted through the open end of the empty tube T while wire 25 is straight and the wire extended through passage l, whereupon the retaining ring 21 may be formed by any suitable tool.

In operation, pressure of tube T causes the paste near the neck 3 to be extruded, carrying with it the valve 8 until closure member 24 seals the lower end of passage l, as shown in dotted lines. The extruded paste is distributed along the wire 25 from which it may be easily removed onto a tooth brush by passing wire 25 between the bristles of the brush. With the valve 8 in its 7 upper position, as shown in dotted lines, the assemblage may be suspended on a hook passed through ring 2?, closure member 24 serving to seal the discharge passage 1. For sealing the tube T at the time of manufacture. a thin film of suitable plastic material which hardens or becomes set, may be spread over the upper end of the neck 3, which film will also engage ring 21 and serve to retain valve ii in its lower, full line position.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of my invention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1; A device for dispensing paste material from a container-comprising in combination, a neck secured to the containerend provided with'a 'scharge passage, an elongated valve passing through said passage and comprising a stem whose width is only slightly-less than that of said passage whereby the bounding wall of said passage serves to guide said stem centrally there.- through and at least a portion of said stem extending into the paste material and adapted to transfer a portion thereof past the outer end of said neck, and a closure member secured to a container comprising in combination, aneck 7 secured to the container and provided with. a discharge passage, an elongated valve. passing through. said passage and having a stem extending into the paste material, said stemcomtprising a thin, flat plate along the extended opposite facesof which the paste material is adaptedfor adhesive engagement, and'a closure'member secured tothe end ofsaid stern and'arranged to close said discharge passa'ge upon the discharge of a predetermined amount of the material therefrom.

3. In a collapsible tube construction, the combination with a container having a side wall, an end neck provided with a discharge passage and an inwardly tapered shoulder connecting. the side wall and neck and formed integrally therewith, of an elongated valve passing through saiddischarge passage and having a stem extending beyond the lower end of said shoulder, a member projecting from the upper end of said stem and adapted to engage the upper end of said neck and a closure member secured to the lower end of said stem and having a diameter substantially greater than that of said discharge passage whereby said closure member comes into engagement with the upper end of said tapered shoulder to close the discharge passage upon the application of pressure to the side wall of the tube, said stem.- having at least one transverse dimension which is only slightly less than that of said discharge passage whereby the bounding. wall of said discharge passage serves to guide said stem centrally therethrough, said stem also having a fiat portion movable into a position outside the end of the container upon the application 4. A device for dispensing pastematerial from a container having a narrow neck provided. with a discharge passage, comprising in combination, a valve stem passing through said discharge passage and comprising an elongated fiat plate provided at its upper end with one or more portions extending outwardly to engage the upper end of said neck, a disc having a diameter greater than that of said discharge passage secured to the lower end of said flat plate, said disc being automatically movedinto engagement with the upper portion of the container by the movement of the paste material into and towards said discharge passage.

5. A device for dispensing a predetermined amount of paste material from a container having a narrow neck provided with a discharge passage, comprising in combination, a valve stem having an elongated body portion disposed for sliding engagement with the bounding surface of said discharge passage, said valve stem also being provided with a transversely extending aperture normally located within the paste material and said aperture being movable into a position beyond the outer end of said neck upon the application of suitable pressure to the container.

6. A device of the glass described having the elements combined and cooperating as set forth in claim 5 and further characterized by having a spherical shaped closure member secured to the lower end of said elongated body portion, the diameter of said closure member being greater than that of said discharge passage.

7. A device for dispensing a predetermined amount of paste material from a container having an end provided with a cylindrical discharge passage, w elongated valve stem substantially filling said discharge passage and slidable there through, said valve stem being provided with a transversely extending aperture having a width greater than that of the usual tooth brush and normally disposed in the paste material, said aperture being movable into a position outside the end of the container upon the application of pressure to the paste material contained therein.

VINTON K. MILBANK. 

